Chemical parks encounter "export shock"

1. Chemical parks encounter "export shock" Ernst Grigat has led Chempark in Leverkusen, Dormagen and Krefeld-Uerdingen for more than 10 years. He said "The German chemical park model has been successful in export." Grigat, who has a doctorate in chemistry, said that in China, more than 1,000 chemical parks have been established on the German model. This is because the concentration of expertise and resources enables better safety and environmental management. Rhineland also provides a competitive advantage for chemical companies headquartered there. Grigart said the density of the chemical park allows these companies to cooperate with each other. "There is a very close relationship between the factories in Rhineland, Dormagen, Leverkusen and Wesseling," he told DW. To this end, the site has access to the seaport, is located in the main European transportation hub, and is connected to a unique pipeline system, where 50% of the materials can be transported by pipeline. "The people of Cologne may not know this," Grigart said. "But Cologne is the chemical capital of Germany, and even the chemical capital of Europe."

2. Risk outlook? But isn't it dangerous to produce chemicals so close to the city? Grigat said, not necessarily. Of course, the products produced by the chemical industry can be dangerous. But he said that one of the main advantages of chemical parks is that they have the necessary safety infrastructure, such as the fire department, which has been specially trained in handling hazardous materials. Therefore, new companies are more inclined to establish bases in chemical parks to ensure that they are protected by law. The factories that were originally located in the industrial zone, suddenly located in the city center due to urban development, also tend to move to the chemical park. Grigart said these parks are often planned so large that safety standards can be maintained even if they are close to residential areas.